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Non-union Painters Halt State Capitol Business

Legislative committees were canceled or halted for a few hours today. More than 1,000 people descended on the state Capitol to protest non-union painters working on the building.

Workers from River City Painting waved signs calling for union justice. Lawmakers not wishing to step across the picket line milled around talking. One legislator called the picket rally “completely bogus.”

Assemblyman John Campbell said he showed up to the Assembly Business and Professions Committee to present his bills and found an empty hearing room.

The protesters said they are concerned that a lower contract offer would lead to improper work and could hurt union painters because a non-union deal would mean lower wages overall.

The contract to paint the north side of the Capitol building was awarded to River City one month ago for $3 million. The estimate was for $4 million dollars.